Register



C. W. BRENN REGISTER Filed March 23, 1955 Oct. 18, 1938.

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ken-- Patented Oct. 18, 1938 REGISTER Carl W. Brenn, Montclair,N. J., assignor to Autographic Register C ompany, Hoboken, N. J., a.

corporation of New Jersey Application March 23,

Claims.

This invention relates to machines of the type wherein tickets or slips are inscribed as required and more particularly, to a machine of this kind which because of its size and weight is portable 5 and adapted to be carried from place to place in the conducting of business,

These machines are used many times by deliverymen to make out a delivery ticket or receipt covering the particular kind and quantity of goods selected and delivered at that time and obtain a receipt from the person to whom the goods are delivered. This use of the machine requires it to be carried from the truck to the store or the like, and hence the machine and the writing strip which is exposed in position to be Written upon is liable to become wet in inclement weather and soiled or mutilated at any time.

An object of the present invention is to :pro- 90 vide a portable register with means for covering and protecting the writing strip, or the uppermost strip of a plurality of strips when the register is usedas a manifolding one, when the register is not being used to make out and issue a ticket.

This may be done in several diierentways. For example, the writing opening may be closed to protect the ticket which is in writing position against becoming wet or soiled, and this may be accomplished by providing a sliding cover mounted on the marginal frame and projecting from one end of the register so that it may be pushed forwardly to cover the exposed ticket. In its extended position where the writing ticket is uncovered, the cover may constitute an auxiliary hand rest or extension for the top plate of the register.

In another form of the invention, the writing opening is closed and the ticket to be written upon is covered by a curtain which is mounted on a roller at one side of the register and which may be moved across the writing opening to close the same. This latter form of the invention is in many respects more advantageous than the others above referred to, since the curtain is entirely out of the way when the ticket is exposed for writing operations, and hence may be left on the machine at all times to be used when the occasion requires.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates the several embodiments of the invention above referred to:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a form of this inven- 1935, seriaiivo.v 12,619V V (o1. 281-6) tion, in which the cover comprises a plate movable to close the writing opening and when in open position forming a hand rest or extension for the top plate of the register.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view ofthe upper portion of the register taken on the line 31-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View of the modiiication of this invention in which the writing opening is `adapted to be covered lby a. curtain.

Fig. 5 is a plan View, partly in section, following the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and showing the curtain in normal inoperative position.

The register to which the present invention is applied, in common with'otherregisters of the same general character, comprises a casing I5 having a top plate I6 provided with a Writing opening II to expose vpaper strips I8 Yfor writing operations. Through the medium of mechanism common in the art and not shown, except for the operating handle I9, the paper strips I8 are ejected from the register through a delivery opening 2|] in the front Wall2| of the casing so that the edges of the strips may be grasped to Withdraw the Written form orticket from the machine. f

The writing strips I8 are contained within the register usually in the form of a zigzag pile 22 asshown in Fig. 2.

These machines are frequently employed in situations Where the 'writing ticket, that is the portion of the-strip'lll which is located below the opening I'I, is liable tor become soiled, mutilated, or wet. For instance, such machines are used by drivers delivering merchandise to stores according to the quantity and kind wanted at the time of delivery. The deliveryman usually carries the register from the truck into the store and, after listing the goods delivered, receives the signature as a receipt. This involves considerable handling of the register, and when it is raining or snowing the exposed ticket is liable to become wet and spoiled.

To obviate this, the present invention provides a means for covering the writing opening. In the form of the invention, shown in Figs. 1 through 3, this is accomplished by means of a shutter plate 34 slidably mounted in tracks 35 disposed longitudinally of the register. 'I'he plate 34 is of such width as to cover the writing opening I'I when the plate is pushed forwardly. Any suitable means for manipulating the plate may be employed in the broader aspects of this invention, but, as shown, the plate 34 is made long enough to project beyond the rear wall 36 of the register through a slot 31 so that, when the plate is pushed forwardly to close the writing opening, a tab or iingerpiece 38 on the plate 34 is located adjacent the outer face of the wall 36. When, however, the plate ispulled rearwardly to expose the writing opening and the writing ticket, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the rearward extension of the table I6 thus acts. as an auxiliary handrest. The tracks 35, by which the plate is supported and held close to the underside of the top I6, are located laterally beyond the platen 39 of the register and in" otherwise empty spaces so as not to interfere with the traveling of the writing strips nor require the top plate I6 to be any higher" than normal above the platen 39.

In the form of the invention shown i'n Figs. 4' and 5, the" writing' opening? l1 is; closed by a flexible curtain 40' preferably' of metal. This curtain is mounted on a roller or' cylinder 4| having a shaft 42, and is provided with a spring 43 tending to windv the' curtain on the roller. From the roller the curtain passes overv aguide roller 44, and on its end' isi provided with a bar 45 which rides on' tracks 46' secured transversely across the top I6. The bar 45 is provided with a tooth 41 adapted toV engage a notchorhcle 481 in the opposite side of the top plate IB. Hence, when it is desired to cover the writing opening' I1, the bar 45 is grasped and the curtain is pulled toward the right, as viewed' in Figs 4and 5until the tooth 41 engages the' hole 48, at which time the curtain is locked inoperative position. When it is desired to write upon the tickets i8, the bar 45 is lifted to remove the tooth 41 from the4 notch 48 and the spring 43 is allowed to' Wind the curtain? on the roller and expose the strips i8V for writing operations. This embodiment of thev invention is extremely advantageous in situations where it is desired tohave the covering means remain inoperative, except when actually needed, for instance, when the register must be carried in the' rain..- VIts presencein the' registerl in no Way encumbers the operation of the latter, and a curtain is always ready to be used.

With the form of the invention shown in Figs; 4 and 5, the curtain roller occupies the space in which the carbon supply roll is mounted. Hence, With this form of the invention, sheet carbon extending longitudinally of the machine is employed. Y

` Of course, if it is particularlyv desirable to have the auxiliary handrest on the register, then the form of the invention shown'in Figs. l to 3 would be preferable.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which it is desired to obtain Letters Patent, is:-

1. A register of the kind described having a casing including a platen near its top for supporting writing strips in position to be issued; said casing including a top plate placed above said platen and having a writing opening for exposing the platen-supported Writing strips; said top plate being close enough to the strips when thus supported to allow writing to be conveniently made' onfth'e strips through said opening; and means on the casing between the top plate and the'writing strips for closing the writing opening to prevent thewriting strips located thereon from becoming. wet or soiled, said means including a cover element movable in one direction to open the writing opening and movable in the opposite direction:V toI closethe writingv opening, and guiding' meansv forsaidv cover element sok located that the cover element is always held sulciently elevated above the writing strips on the platen to avoid injury to said strips. despite thecloseness as aforesaid of the top plate to the strips.

2. The register deiined in claimy l, wherein said closing means isa flexible curtain, there being a roller to' which said curtain is attached and' relative to which it is windable, said ilexi'ble means being substantially uniformly exible along the direction of itsy windability relativev to the roller.

3. The' register den'ed i'nf claim l, wherein said closing means is a plate slidably mounted on the underside' of said' top plate.

4. The register defined in claim l', wherein said cover element is a slidable shutter plate, and wherein said opening is materially shorter than said top plate in the direction of sliding of the shutter, the shutter being longer than said opening in such direction whereby the shutterY is slidable toclose said opening fully, or partiallyr to close the same different amounts or fully to open the same but always to project a part ofthe shutter beyond the casing topresent the thus projected shutter portion as an extension hand'- rest.

5. The register defined in claim l, wherein said closing means is a slidable shutter plate having a nger tab for engaging the exterior surface of the casing when the shutter is moved completely to close saidl opening, the parts thus to be engaged being so shaped and arranged that when they are engaged a portion of the tab will be f spaced from the casing.

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